Tuesday, October 19, 2010

bibliophilia

I was struck today, after teaching two writing classes (grades 7-12), that so few of them are reading anything other than schoolwork. I am having them begin Writing Journals this week, starting with four entries per week, and I gave them simple blog-style prompts to help them get going. One was, "I am reading..." When I asked that question in class, only about 5 of the 35 raised their hands and gave me the title of a book they were reading.

Saddening.

I know one thing. I never would have developed into the person I am today without the books and literary exposure that I had as a kid, teen, and young adult. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for making reading a large part of our lives and memories. Thanks for indulging us and investing in us with all those late nights of harrowing Peretti stories, Narnia tales read in all the voices, and all the BJU mysteries we solved. They lit a fire in us, to learn and read and explore and imagine. I remember all the Christmases of opening boxes of books instead of heaping toys and gadgets.

We had enough toys to play with. The shelves in our house, of which there are still many, are full. And yet we still read and buy and read again. I find myself looking for "our" books online at used booksellers, getting ready for the next generation of little book lovers. CL already has the attention span of a sparrow for her reading time!

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My Fav Quotes & Sayin's

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. -John Piper

Amor vincit omnia...Love Conquers All

Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living. -Jim Elliot "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." -C. S. Lewis Don't waste your life trying to look good. Spend your life making God look good. -John Piper

Dreams carried around in one's heart for years, if they are dreams that have God's approval, have a way of suddenly materializing. -Catherine Marshall

The dumb get dumber! -Benny McQua

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read at all. -Mark Twain

According to the burden that grieves you, is the cry to God that comes from you! -Richard Crisco

Show me your friends; I'll show you your destiny. -Richard Crisco

You teach what you know and reproduce who you are. -Richard Crisco

"If your goal is purity of heart, be prepared to be thought very odd."-Elisabeth ElliotOnly he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes. -Dietrick Bonhoeffer

Freedom should be seen not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to please to do what is right. -Peter Marshall

The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. -Jane Austen